Ten years ago, CMC’s Program Director Sylvia Sherman heard about a Performathon at a community music school in New York and thought, “We could do something like that.” What started as an experiment for CMC’s 95th anniversary has grown into a full day of music that spills out into the courtyard, the hallways, and every corner of the Mission campus.
“If we are tapping into the everyday musical magic at CMC, Field Day will always be a blast.”
From the beginning, Sylvia has observed programmatic trends happening at CMC and found ways to bring it to Field Day. In the early days, she sat down with key faculty to figure out how to get people on stage together. “Loretta Taylor, who conducts String Orchestras at our Richmond Branch, brought together a CMC Strings Orchestra, and Martha Rodriguez Salazar brought together singers for a mass choir. But most importantly, it was important to talk with a lot of our faculty and students to encourage them to perform on this day.”
That encouragement turned into something bigger. “Over the years, with the growth of faculty departments, we have been able to encourage ‘mini department’ recitals. We encourage encore performances from department events like VocalPalooza, the ‘For Love of Strings,’ and Keyboard Marathon performances.” The Neighborhood Choir Program joined in, too, as did Merit Scholars. “We always try to make sure that Field Day gives a good snapshot of who CMC is and our community of musicians.”
“Since the beginning, there has been magic in creating special collaborations and moments just for Field Day,” she says. From courtyard welcome music to providing jazz trios in addition to piano accompaniment, and various faculty, staff, and student collaborations, Field Day offers an opportunity to hear music from people we might typically just pass in the courtyard or hallway. This year, in honor of the event’s tenth anniversary, Field Day will feature beloved CMC alums throughout the day.
This year, almost 100 people have signed up to kick off Field Day as part of the Field Day Choir at 11 am, singing “What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love” arranged by Beth Wilmurt, with a faculty team that includes Michael Mohammed, Nena Aldaz, Sharon Wayne, and Executive Director Julie Rulyak Steinberg. “Key to creating the magic is to observe what is bubbling at CMC and to try to incorporate that.”
What bubbles up, year after year, is people. People who come back because Field Day gives them something they can’t quite get anywhere else.
Ralph Sinick has performed every year since 2016. “Field Day gives me the excitement of being in front of a crowd, a chance to perform with other people, the pleasure of talking to people I’ve known for decades, and the opportunity to make new friends. There’s also the satisfaction of raising money for a good cause.”
Genie McNaughton has been there every year, too, singing in Martha Rodriguez’s classes for over a decade. “I’ve come to realize how important sharing one’s music is to helping one grow as a musician. Field Day is clearly part of that, but with the bonus of donating and reaching out to friends to support the unique music environment that is CMC.”
Sylvia has watched performers like these grow more confident over the years. She’s also seen moments she’ll never forget: faculty member Nena Aldaz performing with her professional group, Pitch Please; former student Sai Ray leading his jazz ensemble on stage; the Curtis Family playing what may have been their very first show together. “Honestly, there are so many performances that are memorable,” she says. “There are a lot of them that are from faculty and students who boldly perform for the first time.”
Grace Huenemann, who performed from 2016 to 2024, saw that same spirit from the stage. “I love the family spirit at Field Day. It’s a kick to see kids performing with their parents, or whole families performing together, and to see the CMC family of students, board members, staff, and faculty taking turns on stage and cheering each other on.”
For singer Alia Hyphus, who has come back nearly every year since 2016, the reason is personal. “The thing that kept me coming back was the opportunity to perform. All the work I’ve done over 18 years of voice study has been to be a vocal performer. I want to help out when I can, since it is the affordability for low-income people like me that made this available to me.”
Sin-Tung Chiu, violin faculty at CMC’s Richmond District Branch since 1988, has performed every single year. “For ten years, I have been impressed by how this event serves Community Music Center’s mission: that no one is denied access to quality music education regardless of background,” and Field Day fundraising “provides much-needed financial assistance to low-income families in San Francisco.”
This year, pianist Tim Eischens is stepping into a new role as accompanist. “I’m really looking forward to experiencing Field Day from a more collaborative vantage point, supporting a range of musicians and helping bring out their musical ideas in real time. It also feels like a chance to engage more broadly with the community, connecting with artists in a different, more fluid way.”
Development Director Elenka Refsell, who Sylvia credits with bringing relentless energy to the fundraising side of the event, describes what it feels like to walk onto campus that day. “Field Day is full of energy and joy and community. Seeing people who are getting onstage for the first time ever breathe and relax when they sense the spirit of community and support around them; it’s a wonderful thing. It is impossible to leave Field Day without a smile on your face.”
Christopher Borg, CMC’s Executive Director during Field Day’s first year, still thinks about what that inaugural event represented. “I cannot imagine a better community-wide commitment of time and passion in support of CMC’s mission of music for all. I have felt honored to be a part of this history. It embodied the understanding that we are far more impactful as a community. I often felt there was a spiritual thread connecting CMC’s founding director, Gertrude Field.”
You’re invited to Field Day 2026! Join us on Sunday, May 31, from 11 am to 5 pm at CMC’s Mission District Branch, 544 Capp Street. Free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!